The government of Botswana has invested US$100 million in Africa’s second biggest submarine cable project to bolster its plans to link with Europe via the east and west coasts of Africa.
The East Africa Submarine Cable System (EASSY) project that runs under the Indian Ocean from Mtunzini in South Africa to Port Sudan in Sudan is currently under construction and is expected to be in operation by 2010.
The Botswana government is also negotiating with Namibia and Angola to determine the most feasible way for Botswana to access the undersea cable from West Africa that will provide the country’s link to Europe via West Africa.
The country wants to link Europe through terrestrial and undersea cables via east and West African coasts to ease communication problems, said Botswana Assistant Minister of Trade and Industry Duke Lifhoko in an interview. Negotiations are under way with Angola and Namibia to determine the most feasible way to access the undersea cables, Lifhoko said.
The project, which will cost more than $230 million, is being funded by the World Bank’s International Finance Corporation, the African Development Bank, the European Development Bank, the German Development Bank and a consortium of 25 telecom operators.
Source: IDG
